"As a young, queer girl of color, I needed—no, NEED to read about sex. Heroines of my race having sex in a way that isn’t hyper-sexualized. Heroines having sex that isn’t just romanticized rape. Heroines having sex with multiple partners over the course of a series, because the first-boyfriend-only-boyfriend model is a dangerous misconstruction of reality."

"Also, Principal McGee and her assistant Blanche are totally doing it. This isn’t really related to the Rizzo-Frenchy relationship, but it’s important for me to point out that they are totally doing it. Principal McGee went to Smith, and they share an apartment together, and they are totally doing it."

"Everything you found objectionable about her in the Twilight films — and you found her objectionable; I have read the internet — was the result of a lion being forced to wear housecat drag. She was made to pursue, not to be pursued; she was made to lean exquisitely against walls and wear men’s trousers and take women by the chin and kiss them fully on the mouth. She takes, she is not taken. She was more Joan Jett in The Runaways than Joan Jett ever was. Heterosexuality cannot contain her; neither can this white suit."

The BBC have collected a nice little sample of Pacific Poetry for you to enjoy. Awesome!

Dominique Christina's The Period Poem is a must watch for everybody who has a daughter ~

What We Do In The Shadows looks like the kind of hilarious movie you don't want to miss. Luckily, the film's genius marketing campaign will ensure you won't forget to catch it. Proof that the marketing is getting through: I had a What We Do In The Shadows dream the other night.

I've been to Brisbane once, & I gotta tell ya, I don't think it's the city for me. I'm more of a cold, dark, gothic Wellingtonian than a hot, bright, colourful summer lover. There was one thing that I loved about Brisbane though (other than my wonderful family, who I would travel to Brisbane to visit again in a heartbeat) ~ The Queenslander.

Heather Armstrong of Dooce has been on a trip to South East Asia with Exodus Road to look into the work they do to help girls and women caught up in sex tourism and sex trafficking. This post of hers had me in tears. I can't even explain how perfect this piece is, so just read it for yourself.

Thursday, 5 June 2014

"But the
overall problem is one of a culture where instead of seeing women as, you know,
people, protagonists of their own stories just like we are of ours, men are
taught that women are things to “earn,” to “win.” That if we try hard enough
and persist long enough, we’ll get the girl in the end. Like life is a video
game and women, like money and status, are just part of the reward we get for
doing well."

A fascinating read on managing publicity ~Angelina Jolie's Perfect Game."Taken together, these images, and the stories that accompanied them,
were speaking about
their relationship, even if the pair themselves weren’t offering comment. And
what they were saying was that this wasn’t a story about sex or scandal; rather,
it was one of family, humanitarianism, and global citizenship. Within this
framework, any publication that chose to focus on sexual intrigue was
effectively neglecting the most in need."

I Confronted Donald Trump In Dubai.
Molly Crabapple is doing such good, important work. "On stage, Trump praises his Dubai. He is effusive—and
sincere. Trump is one sort of Westerner who loves the UAE. They find here a
throwback to colonialism's heyday. No matter how much you've shat the bed at
home, here your whiteness will get you a job, money, servants from the Global
South. Help is so affordable when migrant workers make $200 a month. In police
states, there is little crime."Wilder Women alert! Sarah of Yes and Yes has rounded up somelife advice from famous, painfully awesome
women.

"It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid
that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of
discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I
grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships,
prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they
will have to do'. And mostly, against all odds, they do."

Confession time: I've always had a fondness for Heart, cos,
Wilder Women! Watch Ann & Nancy Wilson and others perform a cover of
Stairway to Heaven that moves Led Zeppelin to tears ~

Ryland's
Story has been doing the rounds on social media these past few weeks. It is
definitely worth watching ~

Thursday, 29 May 2014

The tragedy at Isla Vista was awful. So, so awful that I have been trying to avoid reading about it lest I sink into a deep depression. Avoiding it altogether has proved difficult though. Which is a good thing, because along with all the awfulness, some really smart, sensible things are being said. Dude, It's You is one of those good things.

"If you just want to get laid and you don’t care how, the problem is you."

"I take the responsibility of playing another ethnicity very, very seriously, and I promise myself and those people that I will represent them with as much dignity and integrity as I can muster. I’m not fooling around. I don’t want to make a fool of that cultural heritage. I represent them as I would represent my own."

Just put this on repeat and the rest of your day will be so full of joy ~

Sword fights! Boobies! The Game of Thrones theme, Modern Maori Quartet styles ~